Author Archive

Parashat Yitro January 22, 2022, 20 Shvat 5782 Torah: Exodus 18:1-20:23; Triennial 18:1-20:23 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 (Ashkenazim); Sephardim Isaiah 6:1-13 Sitting Atop a Sundial Ilana Kurshan  Our parashah contains the words of the Ten Commandments, which God speaks to Moses and the people of Israel from Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments are introduced by [...]

Parashat Beshalach, Shabbat Shira January 15, 2022, 13 Shvat 5782  Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16; Triennial 14:26-17:16 Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 (Ashkenazim); Sephardim Judges 5:1-31 Make the Bitter Sweet Ilana Kurshan   Our parashah contains the dramatic high point of the Exodus story, in which God splits the Sea of Reeds so that the Israelites might pass through on [...]

Parashat Bo January 8, 2021, 6 Shvat 5782 Torah: Exodus 10:1-13:16; Triennial 12:29-13:16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 Restarting Time Ilana Kurshan   In this week’s parashah God tells Moshe and Aaron that the Exodus from Egypt will mark the start of the Jewish calendar: “This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall [...]

Parashat Vaera, Shabbat Mevarchim Sh'vat January 1, 2021, 28 Tevet 5782 Torah: Exodus 6:2-9:35; Triennial 8:16-9:35 Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 The Pizza Toast Ilana Kurshan  In the opening verses of our parashah, God appears to Moshe, once again reiterating the covenant: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but [...]

Parashat Shemot December 25, 2021, 21 Tevet 5782  Torah: Exodus 1:1-6:1; Triennial 4:18-6:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 (Ashkenazim); Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 (Sepharadim) Bridegroom of Blood Ilana Kurshan  Our parashah describes the early years of Moshe’s life leading up to the pivotal moment when he is informed by God of his mission to deliver the Israelites from [...]

Parashat Vayechi December 18, 2021, 14 Tevet 5782  Torah: Genesis 47:28-50:26; Triennial 49:27-50:26 Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-2:12 True Lovingkindness Ilana Kurshan  Parashat Vayechi chronicles the deaths of Jacob and his son, Joseph, both of whom provide explicit instructions regarding their burials. Just before his death, Jacob summons Joseph and makes him swear to bury him [...]

Parashat Vayigash December 11, 2021, 7 Tevet 5782  Torah: Genesis 44:18-47:27; Triennial 46:28-47:27 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-37:28  Laden Wagons Ilana Kurshan  In parashat Vayigash the patriarch Jacob learns the truth about his son Joseph, whom he has not seen in several decades. Joseph’s brothers return from Egypt to Canaan and inform their father, “Joseph is still [...]

 Parashat Miketz; Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Hannukah December 4, 2021, 30 Kislev 5782  Torah: Genesis 41:1-44:17; Triennial 43:16-44:17; Numbers 7:42-47, 28:9-15 Haftarah: I Kings 3:15-4:1  Glimmers of an Incandescent Light Ilana Kurshan  In parashat Miketz, Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to procure food, since there is a famine in the land of Canaan. [...]

Parashat Vayeshev November 27, 2021, 23 Kislev 5782 Torah: Genesis 37:1-40:23; Triennial 39:1-40:23 Haftarah: Amos 2:6-3:8 From Despair to Repair Ilana Kurshan In this week’s parashah we read about Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar, who tricks him into sleeping with her after she despairs of having a child with any of his sons. At first [...]

Parashat Vayishlach November 20, 2021, 16 Kislev 5782 Torah: Genesis 32:4-36:43; Triennial 35:16-36:43 Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-1:21  The Struggles that Shape Us Ilana Kurshan  On the eve of Jacob’s climactic re-encounter with his brother Esau, he finds himself alone at night on the banks of the Yabbok after having sent his wives and children ahead. There [...]

Parashat Vayetzei November 13, 2021, 9 Kislev 5782 Torah: Genesis 28:10-32:3; Triennial 31:17-32:3 Haftarah: Hosea 12:13-14:10 (Ashkenazim); Sephardim Hosea 11:7-12:12 Ilana Kurshan A Spiritual Exercise At the start of our parashah, Jacob departs from his childhood home in Beer Sheva and heads toward Haran, at once fleeing his brother’s wrath and searching for a wife, [...]

Parashat Toldot November 6, 2021, 2 Kislev 5782  Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9; Triennial 27:28-28:9 Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7 The Blinding of Isaac: A Blessing in Disguise Ilana Kurshan In this week’s parashah an aging Isaac, now the patriarch of the family, bestows the blessing of the firstborn on Jacob instead of Esau when the former tricks him [...]

Parashat Chayei Sarah October 30, 2021, 24 Cheshvan 5782  Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18; Triennial 24:53-25:18 Haftarah: I Kings 1:1-1:31  A Crown of Glory Ilana Kurshan  Parashat Chayei Sarah describes the final years of Abraham’s life, following the death of his wife Sarah and culminating in Abraham’s own death. Towards the opening of the parashah, we are told [...]